ESOL - Curriculum & Resources

ESOL

English for speakers of other languages

If English is not your first language, you can take a course to help you improve your English language skills. You can gain a qualification at the end of your learning.

These qualifications offer the first steps in helping build your knowledge of the English language and will allow you to live more independently in the UK.

To find out more about our ESOL courses call 01254 507720 or
email us at esol@blackburn.gov.uk 

Assessments

All learners will be offered an assessment prior to joining the course. It is important we find out your current skill level so we can start you off on the right course.

COURSES

Pre-Entry ESOL

Monday 12:15 to 14:45 & Friday 9:15 to 11:45

16/09/2024 to 31/01/2025

Monday & Friday 09:15 to 11:45

16/09/2024 to 31/01/2025

Entry 1 ESOL

Monday 12:15 to 14:45 & Friday 9:15 to 11:45

16/09/2024 to 31/01/2025

AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME

Our courses will help you to:

  • Feel more confident in the community
  • Move onto other courses or training
  • Progress into work
  • Support your children with their school work
  • Become independent with everyday life activities

To find out more about our ESOL courses call 01254 507720
or email us at esol@blackburn.gov.uk

ESOL
RESOURCES

Discover a range of resources to support your learning journey

Pre-Entry Level

For beginners with very little or no English at all.

Entry Level 1

Beginning to make short sentences with up to 5-6 words.

Entry Level 2

Can understand better and communicate with others in simple sentences.

Entry Level 3

Have more confidence and vocabulary – can understand and respond accordingly. Still need to work on grammar and sentence structure.

General Resources

These websites are good for practising your English skills

Video Channels

These YouTube channels have lots of helpful videos

Podcasts & Audio

Some recommended Podcasts and other audio resources

Pre-Entry Level

Speaking & Listening

Family Words

Look at the family picture and practice speaking the family words. (Click image to download)

Be active (Talk English)

Practise talking about exercise in this lesson from Talk English.

Connect (Talk English)

This activity is about asks you about what you do in your daily life. See if you do this with a partner.

Being active

This activity will help you to ask and answer questions about how you exercise and keep fit. Use the audio buttons on each slide to listen.   

Reading

Family reading

Read the text carefully and see if you can find the family words. (Click image to download)

Every day (BritishCouncil.org)

In this task you will watch a video and learn new words about shopping and food. You will also get the chance to make your own shopping list.

Reading text messages (BritishCouncil.org)

This topic will help you learn about text messages.  You will learn to find key information about dates and times too. You will also learn new words about school.

Games about exercise (Quizlet)

These games will help you read, match, write and spell the keywords. Then, test yourself here.

Writing

Family Spelling

The family words are missing letters. See if you can find the missing letters. (Click image to download)

Family Writing

The family words are missing letters. See if you can find the missing letters. (Click image to download)

Everyday life (BritishCouncil.org)

In this task you will learn new words to describe what you do every day. You will also read and write sentences about your daily life.

 

Games about daily life (Quizlet)

Learn to read, write and spell new words about daily life. You can then test yourself here.

 

 

Games

Family Word Search

See if you can find all the words in the word search. (Click image to download)

Entry Level 1

Speaking & Listening

Travel Survey

See if you can complete the travel survey in this task. (Click image to download)

Simple Questions

Make questions to ask somebody in the present simple. (Click image to download)

Jobs & Work

Practice asking questions about jobs and work. (Click image to download)

Transport vocabulary (ESOLcourses.com)

Listen to the words relating to transport and repeat. This will help you pronounce the words correctly.

Idea!  Speak to your family about the transport they use. See if you can ask the questions correctly.

Reading

Travel & Transport

See if you can complete the travel survey in this task. (Click image to download)

Reading job adverts (Britishcouncil.org)

Practise finding information and understanding important words in job adverts.

Reading a hospital letter (Britishcouncil.org)

Read a letter from the hospital. Find days, times and important information in a letter.

Food words (Britishcouncil.org)

Learn new food words. Practise reading, listening and spelling words beginning with ‘p’ & ‘b’.​

Writing

Jumbled words

Rearrange the words to make sentences about how people travel. (Click image to download)

Writing about  myself and my family (Britishcouncil.org)

Practise writing sentences about you and your family. Listen to and spell ‘family words’.

Games

Memory game: Transport (ESOLcourses.com)

Click on the tiles to match the pictures to the words.​

Level 2

Speaking & Listening

Asking about a house

Think of ten questions that you could ask about someone’s house. (Click image to download)

Travel and transport

Practise making questions to ask about travel and transport. (Click image to download)

Follow-on questions

Practise developing questions to ask for more information. (Click image to download)

My journey to work (BritishCouncil.org)

Listen to Anne describing her journey to work.  Then record yourself speaking about your journey to work or school.

Healthy eating (BritishCouncil.org)

Does your family have a healthy lifestyle? Listen to a conversation between a mother and a school nurse.

Reading

My Sundays

Read the text carefully and then see if you can write about your day. (Click image to download)

Writing

Your free time

Write about your free time and what you enjoy doing. (Click image to download)

Where I live

Write sentences about your home and where you live. (Click image to download)

Your local area

Write a description of your local area. What do you think it needs? (Click image to download)

Transport in your country

Write about transport in your country and how people travel. (Click image to download)

Education & studying

Write about your education and what you would like to study in the future. (Click image to download)

Games

Alphabet quiz

Practise English words by completing the sentences in this alphabet quiz. (Click image to download)

Entry Level 3

Speaking & Listening

Travel experiences

Using questions to discuss your travel experiences. (Click image to download)

Looking for and applying for jobs

Talking about jobs and asking questions about jobs.

(Click image to download)

Jobs & Work

Practice asking questions about jobs and work. (Click image to download)

Food in the UK and in your country

Speaking about food then asking questions to obtain more information.

(Click image to download)

Finding out what's in the news

Talk with somebody about what’s in the news, and giving your opinion

(Click image to download)

Job likes & dislikes

Listen to Zahra talk about her job, then look at the task sheet. Does she like her job?

(Click image to download)

Council services (BritishCouncil.org)

Listen to how Natalia and Iain talk about how they got help from the council.

My hobby (BritishCouncil.org)

Do you have a hobby? Listen to Penny talking about her hobby.  The language focus is present perfect.

My favourite country (BritishCouncil.org)

Listen to a recording about 3 countries.  Practise comparative and superlative adjectives.

Reading

Written complaints

Practise reading a letter of complaint. (Click image to download)

Comparing places

Read the text comparing 2 places and then write your own sentences. (Click image to download)

Writing

Living in the UK

Practise writing about the good and bad points about living in the UK. (Click image to download)

Proofreading text

Practise your proofreading skills and accuracy by correcting the text. (Click image to download)

Past tense sentences

Arrange the words into the correct order to make sentences in the past tense. (Click image to download)

Confusing words

Practise your spelling by choosing the correct words in this gap fill activity. (Click image to download)

Writing about jobs

Write sentences about jobs you did in the past or want to do in the future. (Click image to download)